Fence post



June 2'1, 1933. E. JOHNSON 1,915,535

FENCE'POST Filed April 22, 1932 firing Patented-June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDVJ ARD JOHNSON, OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CALUMET STEEL v COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORFORATION O1 ILLINOIS FENCE POST Application filed April 22,

My invention relates to metal fence posts of the so-called driven type, and it has to do especially with anchor plate structure and meansfor mounting the same upon the post.

5 Anchor plates heretofore employed and the mountings therefor have been found objectionable in several respects. To facilitate manufacture, the mounting plate usually takes the form of a separate unit which must be securely and permanently fastened to the post at the proper height to serve the intended purpose. It has been customary to secure these plates, incertain instances, by r1veting the same to the post and, in other in i3 stances,'by providing clamp members which interlockingly engage the plate and the post. These and other prior forms of plate mountings have necessitated the provision of openings in the plate and/or post which tends to ill) weaken these parts and, where separate fastening members, such as rivets, clamps, etc, are employed, there is a tendency for the connected parts to loosen and/or become separated during shipment and installation and in use.

. One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved anchor plate and mounting therefor by which the foregoing and other objections inherent in prior structures are overcome, and to provide an anchor plate which is not only strong and durable but which may be quickly, easily and firmly applied to the post.

Another object is to provide a metallic an- J chor plate having self-contained means for securing the same to the post, the entire structure being of single piece construction whereby the plate may be mounted without the use-of separatefastening devices.

A more specific object isto provide an anchor plate having means forming a channel adapted to receive the fence post,'the sides of the channel being. adapted to be deformed to efiect jsecurement of the plate to the post. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawing wherein Figure 1' is a front elevational view of the lower portion of a metal fence post en1bodying one form of my invention;

1932. Serial No. 608,883.

Fig. 2' is a rear elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 38 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view, in detached relation, of the anchor plate shown in Fig. '1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

v Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of another form of anchor plate embodying my invention.

Referring particularly to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing, it comprises a metallic fence post 10 of substan tially T-shape in cross section. The midpart of the T-head portion 11 of this post is provided with a longitudinal strengthening rib 12 which is provided at substantially uniform intervals with lugs 13. The uppermost of these lugs serves as a means for supporting strands ofwire comprising the customary wire fence, while, in this particular form of my invention, advantage is taken of the lower lugs to aid in the positioning of the anchor plate 14: upon the post as will be more fully mentioned hereinafter.

The post 10 is provided with an anchor plate 14 adapted to be imbedded in the ground for the purpose of resisting uprooting forces and other forces operating in the general direction of the fence line which would tend to move the post out of proper alignment once it has been installed. It is highly desirable that these anchor plates be rigidly and firmly attached to the. post to serve its intended purpose in the most efficient manner. To that end, my invention contemplates the use of a strong and durable plate formed, preferably, of a single piece of material which includes means for securing the same to the post without the use of separate fastening devices.

Specifically, referring to Fig. 4, this plate 14 takes, preferably, the shape shown, but it is obvious that it may take any other desired shape which lends itself to the intended use. The central portion 14 of this plate is slightly bulged so as to fit over the post rib 12 with its side wings 14'" and 14 resting upon the T- head portion 11 of the post. This arrangement, obviously, provides a firm seat for the plate without tendency of tipping or displacement of the plate.

The rear face of this plate is further provided, on theopposite sides of the portion 14:, with outwardly projecting flange members 15 extending substantially throughout the length of the plate and forming a post-receiving channel 16. This channel 16 is substantially the width of the post T-head 11 so that the post will fit rather snugly therein and will be positively held against lateral movement. The central, bowed portion 14 of the plate is provided with a plurality (preferably two) of elongated openings 17 which receive adjacent of the post lugs 13, as best illustrated in Fig. 1. The elongation of the openings '17 accommodates any variation which may exist in the spacing of the lugs 13 and facilitates the snug, firm seating of the plate upon the post. hese lugs also aidin positioning the plate longitudinallyand laterally with respect to the post.

To secure the plate to the post with the parts engaged as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to turn the flanges or channel sides 15 over and upon the opposite edges of the post T-head 11 as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

By doing this, it is obvious that arigid attachment is effected substantially through out the length of the plate and such attachment is quite strong and is capable of withstanding any and all strains and stresses imposed thereon in handling and in use ofthe same. I r

In providing the plate 14, I preferably employ a billet of metal rolled. in any desired and well-known manner, to the form shown, thus providing the plate and its attachment means from a single piece. ofmetal. A strip of any desired length and width may thus be formed with the flanges 15, and plates of any desired length and shape may then be cut therefrom. Itwill be understood, however,

that, if desired, the plate body and channel sides or flange members 15 may be formed initially as separate pieces and then welded, or otherwise intimately secured together forming, in effect, an integral structure.

In certain instances, the flange members 15 may be interrupted rather than continuous. Such a form is shown in Fig. 6 wherein the plate 14 is substantially similar to the plate ufacture and install is provided. The plate,

creased life therefor.

once mounted upon the post, is firmly and securely attached andthe attachment parts are not likely to become broken in use or otherwise, all of which insures permanent, proper alignment of the fence post and in- Furthermore, it is to be understood that, while I have shown only two forms of my invention, other changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as definedby the claims which follow. For example, rows of integral attachment lugs may be substituted for the flange 15 or the members 15"; and such lugs as well as the flanges 15 and members 15* may be tapered in section so as to be thicker at their base portions and gradually thinned to their free edges.

I claim:

1. Fence post structure comprising a post member provided with continuous, lateral extensions, a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending, strengthening rib positioned at right angles with respect to said extensions, a plurality of spaced lugs integral with the rib and extending outwardly therefrom, an anchor plate having a central longitudinally extending bowed portion interfittingly engaging said rib and a plurality of spaced openings for receivin said lugs, said anchor plate having a pair 0 side wings disposed in a common plane, a pair of uninterrupted spaced flanges formed independently of the wings and bowed portion and integral with the face of the plate to extend rearwardly therefrom and being substantially co-exensive with the bowed portion of said plate, the terminal portions of said flanges being bent toward each other to engage the rear face of said post extensions thereby to securely hold the .anchor plate in position.

2. Fence post structure comprising a post member of substantially T-shape in section having a rib extending longitudinally of the top with a plurality of spaced lugs projecting from said rib, an anchor plate having wing portions arranged substantially in a common plane and an intermediate, longitudinally extending bowed portion interfittingly associated with said fence rib, said bowed portion having a plurality of openings receiving said lugs, a pair of uninterrupted, rearwardly extending-flanges formed independently of but coextensive with the wings and bowed portion, one disposed one'ach side of saidbow'ed portion, the terminal'portions of said flanges being bent toward each other and. engaging the top of the T-shaped post.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed llly IlflIl'lB.

. EDWARD JOHNSON. 

